Top 7 Mistakes People Make After Getting Dental Veneers
Updated: Sep 23
Dental veneers are cosmetic enhancements that can transform the appearance of your teeth by covering discolouration, reshaping uneven teeth, altering tooth size and length, and making small gaps less noticeable. Whether you choose porcelain or composite veneers, they are designed to look natural and complement your existing smile.
But getting veneers is only the beginning.
Habits like biting hard objects, chewing hard foods, nail-biting, and poor oral hygiene can put stress on dental veneers. Research indexed by the U.S. NLM links teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) to a higher risk of veneer fracture and debonding.
Plus, poorly maintained or damaged veneers can lead to sensitivity, staining, or changes in your smile over time. That's why knowing what to avoid after getting veneers is an important part of protecting your results.
If you've recently invested in veneers, the top 7 mistakes people make after getting dental veneers will help you understand how to care for them and protect your natural teeth.
Dental Veneer Mistakes to Avoid After Treatment
1. Biting Into Hard Foods Without Being Careful
One of the common mistakes after getting dental veneers is treating them like they never break. A single hard bite does not necessarily damage a veneer. But the problem is repeated pressure.
For example, directly using your veneers or front teeth to bite hard foods, ice, pens, nails, or other objects repeatedly can put extra pressure on them, which may cause chipping, tiny cracks, fractures, or eventually make the veneer loosen or detach from the tooth.
Foods and objects to be careful with
Ice cubes and hard candies like fruit-flavoured drops, lollipops, stick candy, nut brittles, etc
Hard nuts like pistachios, walnuts, almonds, etc., and unpopped popcorn kernels
Crusty bread and hard food crusts such as baguettes, toasted bread, pizza crusts, etc
Bones and hard food shells like crab shells and pistachio shells
Pens, pencils, plastic packaging, toothpicks and fingernails
Note: You do not necessarily need to eliminate every crunchy food from your diet. The key is to avoid putting excessive force directly on your veneers.
How to avoid this mistake
Cut harder foods like apples, pineapple, guava, etc into pieces and use your back teeth for chewing.
Avoid using your front teeth to crack shells, eat hard bones, or open packaging.
If you have temporary veneers, be careful with sticky or hard foods because they can loosen them.
During the initial recovery period, follow your dentist's instructions about food texture and temperature.
2. Skipping Brushing and Flossing Because Your Teeth Have Veneers
Some people assume that because their teeth now have a protective covering, they no longer need to be as careful with their oral hygiene.
That is not the case.
Veneers are exquisitely thin, custom-made shells that cover only part of your natural teeth. The natural tooth structure remains vulnerable, particularly around the edges where the veneer meets the tooth. Plus, the natural teeth around the veneer can still pick up stains from foods, drinks, and smoking. Over time, differences in shade may become more noticeable.
And plaque can accumulate near the gumline, increasing the risk of tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease.
The Government of Canada recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily to help remove plaque and reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
How to avoid this mistake
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to strengthen tooth enamel.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle brushing movements to avoid gum irritation and prevent excessive wear.
Clean between your teeth daily with dental floss or another suitable interdental cleaner.
Plaque can build up around the edges of veneers and the gumline, so pay attention around your veneers while cleaning.
Follow your dentist's recommendations for professional examinations and cleaning to detect early signs of decay. Gum problems or veneer damage.
Note: Veneers improve the appearance of your teeth, but they do not replace the need for everyday dental care.
3. Using Whitening Products Without Consulting Your Dentist
After investing in a new smile, you may want to keep your teeth looking bright. This is understandable, especially if you notice your natural teeth becoming darker over time. This can happen due to consuming staining foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, red wine, etc.
However, using whitening strips, gels or other bleaching products without understanding may create a noticeable shade difference between your veneers and natural teeth.
Why can whitening be a problem?
Porcelain and composite veneers do not respond to conventional tooth-whitening treatments in the same way as natural teeth.
Whitening products are designed to change the colour of natural tooth structure. They do not reliably lighten the shade of existing veneers.
Whitening products may also cause tooth sensitivity or irritation, depending on the product.
Common Questions to Ask Your Dentist Before Whitening to Avoid Mistakes
Is teeth whitening suitable for me if I already have veneers?
Will whitening change the colour of my natural teeth but leave my veneers the same shade?
Would my natural teeth benefit from whitening?
Could whitening create a noticeable colour difference between my teeth and veneers?
What can we do if my natural teeth become a different shade from my veneers?
Important: Do not assume that a whitening toothpaste or whitening strip will restore the original shade of your veneers.
4. Ignoring Teeth Grinding and Clenching
Do you wake up with a sore jaw? Do you catch yourself clenching your teeth when concentrating or feeling stressed? You may be experiencing bruxism, a habit of clenching or grinding your teeth that can happen while you're stressed, concentrating, awake or asleep.
However, repeated excessive pressure from clenching or grinding can put extra stress on your teeth and veneers, potentially increasing the risk of chipping, cracking, or damage to the bonding.
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) notes that grinding or clenching your teeth can damage veneers, including causing them to chip or break.
How to avoid this mistake
If you grind or clench your teeth, tell your dentist. They can assess your bite and discuss whether a custom-made night guard may reduce the forces placed on your teeth while you sleep.
Other useful steps you can take:
Avoid chewing on pens or other hard objects.
Notice whether you clench your jaw during stressful activities.
Follow your dentist's recommendations for managing grinding.
Attend follow-up appointments if you notice changes in your bite.
Advice: Do not ignore repeated morning jaw discomfort or unexplained veneer damage. These may be reasons to have your bite and grinding habits assessed.
5. Neglecting Regular Dental Checkups
Once your veneers are fitted and you get the smile you wanted, you may think you no longer need regular dental appointments.
But your veneers, gums, and natural teeth still need professional monitoring every 6–12 months, or as recommended by your dentist. Regular checkups help your dentist identify any early signs of damage, gum problems, loosened restorations, or changes in your bite that may not always be obvious when you look in the mirror.
Dental examinations allow your dentist to:
Check the condition of your veneers to prevent a minor problem
Assess your gums and surrounding teeth.
Look for early signs of decay or other oral health concerns.
Identify possible wear, chips or changes in your bite.
Recommend cleaning or maintenance to maintain the condition of your veneers.
Common Veneer Care Mistakes to Avoid
Keep up with the examination and cleaning schedule recommended by your dentist.
If you have several veneers, a history of gum disease or a habit of grinding your teeth, ask whether you need any additional monitoring.
Do not wait until a veneer breaks before arranging an appointment.
Identify small changes before they become more complicated problems.
6. Ignoring Sensitivity, Discomfort or Changes in Your Bite
Some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity after getting veneers, particularly when eating or drinking something hot or cold. It usually improves within a few days to a couple of weeks as the teeth adjust.
But if sensitivity is severe, gets worse, or continues for several weeks after getting veneers, immediately speak with your dentist in Scarborough for a checkup. Because sometimes sensitivity can have several possible causes, including exposed dentin, cracks, decay or other dental problems.
Note: If a veneer feels too high or uncomfortable when you close your mouth, you may need to be assessed by your dentist.
Contact your dentist if you notice these symptoms:
Persistent or worsening tooth sensitivity.
Pain when biting or chewing.
A bite that feels uneven or uncomfortable.
A veneer that feels loose or has visibly moved.
A chip, crack or sharp edge.
Swelling or persistent irritation around the gums.
How to avoid this mistake
Follow your dentist's aftercare instructions and report symptoms that are persistent, worsening or affecting your ability to eat comfortably.
Avoid trying to file, glue or adjust a veneer yourself because these attempts can damage the restoration or the underlying tooth.
If a veneer becomes loose or breaks, contact your dental office for advice.
Do not assume that every discomfort is normal simply because you recently had dental treatment.
7. Trying to Fix a Chipped Veneer at Home
When a veneer chips, some people may try to fix it at home using household glue. They may want to avoid an urgent dental visit, save money, or assume that a small chip can be easily smoothed or glued back.
However, household glue is not made for use in the mouth. It can irritate or damage the tooth and surrounding tissues.
Plus, trying to file or smooth the veneer yourself can also make the damage worse or affect your bite.
How to avoid the problem
If your veneer chips, leave it alone rather than filing or gluing it.
Avoid biting hard foods with the affected tooth and contact your dentist for an assessment.
If the veneer has come off completely, keep it safe and take it with you to the appointment.
Dental Veneer Aftercare: What to Do During the First Few Days To Keep Your Veneer in Shape
Choose Softer Foods: For the first day or two, choose foods that are easy to chew to avoid sensitivity. This includes yogurt, boiled eggs, pasta, soft rice, smooth soups, etc.
Don't Smoke: Smoking can stain your natural teeth and cause gum inflammation. Plus, it makes it challenging for veneers to maintain a healthy gumline around them.
Give Your Bite Time To Adjust: Your teeth may feel slightly different after veneer treatment because of changing shape and surface. So give your bite a few days to adjust.
Drink water regularly: Staying hydrated supports saliva production, helps rinse away food and acids. And keeps your mouth feeling fresh, which helps you adjust to your new veneers.
Porcelain vs Composite Veneers: Does Aftercare Differ?
Both porcelain and composite veneers can last 10–15 years or longer. However, it depends on good oral hygiene, sensible eating habits and professional advice.
But they differ in durability and maintenance :
Feature | Porcelain Veneers | Composite Veneers |
Material | Dental porcelain | Tooth-coloured composite resin |
Stain resistance | Generally higher | More prone to staining |
Damage | May chip or fracture | May chip, wear or stain |
Maintenance | Regular cleaning and dental check-ups | Regular cleaning; polishing or repairs may be needed |
When to Call Your Dentist?
Mild sensitivity or slight gum tenderness after veneer treatment can be normal for a few days.
However, if you notice the following Symptoms, call your dentist:
Severe or persistent tooth pain
Sensitivity that does not improve
Loose or shifting veneer
Chipped, cracked, or broken veneer
Uneven or uncomfortable bite
Sharp or rough veneer edges
Swollen, red, or bleeding gums
Persistent gum tenderness
Bad taste or unusual odour
Swelling around the treated tooth
Changes in the veneer's colour
Veneer falling off
Give Your Veneers the Right Dental Care
Avoid common mistakes and give your veneers the care they need to last for years.
At Dentistry at Sullivan, Dr. Sepideh Maleki and her team offer custom dental veneers designed to improve the appearance of selected teeth and address concerns such as chips, gaps and discoloration. Using 3D scanning and a digital smile preview, our team can plan your veneers before they're custom-made for your smile.
Ready to take the next step? Book a consultation with Dentistry at Sullivan today and start working towards a smoother, brighter smile.
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